Have to give up BF @ 7-8 months what do I do?!

[mrscupcake]

Hi, I have been breastfeeding my LO for 5 months now already beginning to wean him on to solids now though due to reflux. In novemeber he'll be 7 months and I'll be going back to finish off my midwifery course which will be full time (40 hrs per week) for 4 months so have no choice but to wean him off BF in November although I would have loved to have continued for longer. I just want to know;

a) is it best to start weaning him off the breast gradually?
B) do I use follow on milk or formula?
c) how do I cope with my breasts getting huge, hard and leaking when I miss the feeds?! Don't want to be leaking at work when all the babies are crying! Lol

thanks

 

[ClaireyF]

Just because you are going to be working full time doesn't mean you have to stop completely.
The way I stopped was cutting it down slowly so you don't get the leaky boobs anymore. I fed up to 10.5months and the last couple of months was just the morning feed along side proper food. I used the follow on milk for a while and once he got to 12 months i put him on full fat cows milk...x

 

[mrscupcake]

I was thinking of continuing with one BF a day when I go back to work but I'll be working shifts so I'll be doing nights one week, earlies and lates another week, so I can't stick to morning feeds or bedtime feeds as i'll be at work at different times. I might be able to express and he can have at least 1 EBM a day? Hmmm i will have a think.

 

[ClaireyF]

You will have done very well to get to so far BF'ing. I hope you can express but you may find that difficult when you cut down to 1 feed a day xx

 

[Elski]

I'm a MW and I'm going back to work next week - I plan to BF her before I leave first thing in the morning and express during the day and when I get home in the evening (she'll already be in bed) or BF her during the day and before I leave in the evening and express at night while I'm at work. And just BF as normal on the days I'm not working. If you've already started weaning him, by the time you go back he'll probably be BFing less and you won't get so engorged/uncomfortable

Also, maternity units are the most handy places for nipping off to express